Baughan was the Eagles' #2 pick in the 1960 draft, and was their starting right linebacker for his first 6 seasons in the league, and was named All-Pro in 5 of those 6 years. He also finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1960.
After the 1965 season he was traded to the Rams for 2 bench players, and began playing for 1st-year head coach George Allen. He retired after 5 seasons in LA, having been named All-Pro in all but his injury-shortened last season with the Rams.
In 1971, Allen became the head coach of the Washington Redskins, and to inject some immediate talent onto his roster, he traded for a slew of his ex-Rams (LB Jack Pardee, MLB Myron Pottios, DT Diron Talbert, G John Wilbur, and the rights to the retired Baughan) in exchange for MLB Marlin McKeever and 7 draft choices. Even so, Baughan spent the '72 and '73 seasons as the defensive coordinator for his alma mater Georgia Tech.
In 1974, Allen convinced Baughan to join the Redskins as a player-coach, and he appeared in 2 games before retiring once again after that season.
He was the defensive coordinator for the Colts from 1975-79 and the Lions from 1980-82, before taking the head coaching job at Cornell University.
Baughan returned to the NFL as the linebackers coach for the Vikings (1991-92), Buccaneers (1992-95), and Ravens (1996-98).
